Oklahoma Medical Professionals Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances and Medicare Health Care Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office – Western District of Oklahoma, February 4, 2021

Also Ordered to Pay More than $73,000 in Medicare Restitution

OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past week, DR. JAMES FERRIS, 47, of Midwest City, KATHERINE DOSSEY, 61, of Luther, and SHERRY ISBELL, 50, of Chandler, were sentenced for their respective roles in the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and corresponding health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.

On June 20, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a 103-count Indictment charging Ferris, Dossey and Isbell with crimes related to the distribution of controlled prescription drugs using invalid medical prescriptions and the subsequent fraudulent billings of Medicare for those prescriptions.  According to the Indictment, Isbell was the owner of Physicians at Home and the Mid-Oklahoma Medical Access Clinic, both located in Wellston, Oklahoma.  Ferris was a physician employed by Physicians at Home.  Dossey was a licensed pharmacist who owned a retail pharmacy located in the same building as the clinic.

From September 2015 through December 2015, Isbell, Dossey and Ferris allegedly conspired to dispense prescription-controlled substances, including opioids such as hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl.  In furtherance of the conspiracy, Ferris provided Dossey with stacks of pre-signed, blank prescription pads.  Isbell provided Dossey with access to patient records, allowing Dossey to prepare invalid prescription refills utilizing the pre-signed prescription pads.

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